How to Unleash the Potential in Others (Part 2)

In the last post we mentioned how a leader needs to “Walk the talk”. If we expect the best of others we ourselves need to be our best. If we can modify our beliefs we can start taking steps to improving ourselves and a leap closer to asking it from others. Now perhaps the greatest limiting belief most people have is what they attribute to success. Think for a moment, what do you attribute to success? Is it hard work? Mastery? Circumstance? Luck? Whatever our belief it is most likely displayed to the ones we lead whether we are aware of it or not.

Brian Tracy in his “Reinvention” seminar stated that 64% of Americans believe they will only get rich if they win the lottery. Unfortunately he relates your chances of winning it with getting struck by lightning twice in two years. So this is an example of a very common belief (agreement) that the external environment is in charge of our success, not ourselves.

If we hold this thought over time our behaviors will begin to follow it and soon enough we will not take action because our dominant thought is “What is the point?” or “Luck is not on my side”. Legendary motivational speaker, author, and entrepreneur Jim Rohn explained this dilemma very well. In his seminar “How to Have your Best Year Ever” he stated that you cannot blame bad friends, the economy, the industry, or other external circumstances for you not moving forward.

They are always going to be there, it is like a farmer blaming the crops for not producing. Instead of demanding change from things we can’t change, we ourselves need to change. We need to get better, practice more, reflect more, study more, mentor more, learn more, and listen more. If we can do this we begin to weather the storms of life (external circumstances) greater than before and make our way onward towards our potential.

Once we understand this shift in belief we start realizing that it is up to us to change our mind and our philosophy (agreements), not to hope that our external environment changes. We start shifting our attribution of success from that of luck to that of great dedication and sacrifice. Our dominant thought becomes “If I work hard and smart enough at this I can get it”. And instead of hoping or blaming we begin to take action. Now that you understand how to do this yourself you can begin to instill it in others.

Think about the power of this statement “instead of demanding change from things we cannot change, we ourselves need to change”. It means it is time to take responsibility for your life. As Ghandi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world”. It is then that our ability to influence people begins to grow. Future posts will give insight into how to get people to change and adapt useful habits but for now recognize the power of modeling what you want to see in others.